Denita Mirelez, Meth Trafficking, Texas 2020

Thirty-four members of a methamphetamine ring that operated in the Dimmitt, Texas area have been sentenced to a combined 364 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

The majority were charged in a 38-count federal indictment filed in February 2020, then arrested during a large-scale takedown in March 2020. The FBI’s Dallas Field Office, which led the bust, dubbed it Operation Tierra de Hielo, or “Operation Land of Ice.”

The first defendant to plead guilty, Denita Mirelez, 48, entered her plea on August 19, 2020, admitting that she and a co-conspirator sold several ounces of meth to an FBI informant. She was later sentenced to 97 months in federal prison.

The remaining defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced as follows:

Jesus Garcia, aka “Don Chuy,” 60

Pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; sentenced on May 18, 2021 to 300 months in federal prison.

Noel Mandujano, 50

Pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on July 20, 2021 to 360 months in federal prison.

Robert Vera, 51

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Jan. 20, 2021 to 188 months in federal prison.

Osvaldo Cortez, aka “Lito,” 41

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on April 8, 2021 to 135 months in federal prison.

Gustavo Rincon, aka “Tavo,” 45

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Feb. 17, 2021 to 210 months in federal prison.

Ricky Dale Leavitt, aka “Big Rick,” 48

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on July 13, 2021 to 97 months in federal prison.

Tyler Martin Miller, 32

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on July 7, 2021 to 120 months in federal prison.

Robert “Roberto” Flores, 46

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on May 25, 2021 to 235 months in federal prison.

Tiffany Darlene Haner, 38

Pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm; sentenced on Jan. 20, 2021 to 120 months in federal prison.

Michael “Mike” Diaz, 48

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on June 2, 2021 to 120 months in federal prison.

Rigoberto Cuevas, aka “Rigo,” 43

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Jan. 26, 2021 to 188 months in federal prison.

Johnny Ortiz, aka “Johnny O,” 44

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Feb. 4, 2021 to 240 months in federal prison.

Kristina Renee Chaparro, aka “Yebra,” 36

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Jan. 28, 2021 to 132 months in federal prison.

Michael Reyes, aka “Rat,” 44

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on May 11, 2021 to 120 months in federal prison.

Juan Arturo Martinez, 44

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Feb. 4, 2021 to 52 months in federal prison.

Steven Mendez, 39

Pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced on Jan. 28, 2021 to 210 months in federal prison.

Denita Mirelez’s guilty plea on August 19, 2020, was the first of 34 defendants in the case. Her sentence of 97 months in federal prison was the shortest of the group.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/34-meth-traffickers-sentenced-360-years-federal-prison